Knitting needle



Oct. 8, 1929. w. D. VAN DYKE KNITTING NEEDLE Original Filed Aug. 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet n l l l I'm INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

w. D. VAN DYKE 1,730,545

Oct. 8. 1929. I

KNITTING NEEDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 13, 1927 INVENTOR ATTORN EY WITNESS: 1, W

Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM I). VAN DYKE, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO KAYSER HOSIERY MOTOR MEND CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON,

DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE KNITTING NEEDLE Application filed August 13, 1927, Serial No. 212,811. Renewed February 26, 1929.

This invention relates to knitting needles, and contemplates a novel construction and arrangement whereby the pivoted latch of the needle is automatically returned to its normal position upon movement of the needle in one direction, while the hook portion of the needle is moved into proper relation with the next thread of the article being knitted or dealt with.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the needle forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View taken at a right angle to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a similar view looking at the opposite edge of the needle.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a piece of knit goods showing a run in the latter.

Figure 5 is a view showing the initial position of the needle and latch as it is passed through the loop of the article being dealt with.

Figure 6 is a view showing the next position of the needle and showing how the loop is receivedbetween the handle and latch of the needle.

Figure 7 is a view showing the nextposition of the needle as it is moved upwardly to form a stitch with the loop and adjacent thread, and also showing the manner in which the latch is lowered by the loop above mentioned.

Figure 8 is a view showing the next position of the needle with the adjacent thread about to be drawn through the said loop, and the latter about to leave the latch to permit it to automatically return to its normal position.

Figure 9 is a View showing the position of the needle and latch after it has been moved upwardly, and just prior to its downward movement to form another stitch with the next adjacent thread.

In ribbed stockings, or other character of knit goods, the threads are knitted together in a simple lock or crochet stitch, and if any thread breaks, the particular stitch is loosened, and in turn releases the next stitch and so on, causing the so called run in the article. In Figure 4 I have shown a piece of knit goods having a run, and wherein the threads I) have been separated or loosened from the loop a.

The needle forming the subject matter of the present invention is particularly constructed to facilitate the stitching of the threads a and I) together, by a simple up and down movement of the needle at the end of the run, with the handle 10 of the needle arranged about fifteen degrees toward the rear and about ten degrees to the right of the run. The needle includes the handle 10 which is formed at one end with a hook 11, the shank 12 of which is made relatively thin and of less diameter than the handle 10 so as to afford the hook in its entirety the desired degree of resiliency for the purpose of automatically returning the latch 13 to its normal position after each stitch is formed in the manner to be presently described. An important feature of the needle resides in the fact that the latch 13 extends an appreciable,

distance beyond the end of the hook 11, and may if desired be provided with a groove 14 to receive the end of the hook when the parts are arranged as illustrated in Figure 1.

In using the needle constructed in accordance with the present inventionthe latch 13 is arranged in an upright position substantially parallel with the handle 10, and the needle is then passed downwardly through the loop a which has become separated from the adjacent thread 6 of the particular piece of goods being dealt with and indicated generally at A in Figure 4.. The manner in which the needle is passed downwardly through the loop a is illustrated in Figure 5, which is the initial movement of the needle as above stated. When the needle is moved upwardl through the goods A the loop a passes belnn the latch 13 as shown in Figure 6. During the continued movement of the needle in an upward direction, the hook 11 of the needle engages the adjacent thread I), while at the same time the loop a moves the latch 13 on its pivot to loop a in the formation of the stitch, the latch 13 is automatically returned to its normal position, and the hook of the needle arranged with relation to the next thread 6, so as to be in readiness for the formation of 7 another stitch.

To accomplish these ends, it will be noted that as the needle is being moved upwardly to draw the thread I) through the loop a, the latter is passing downwardly over the inclined latch 13 thereby exerting a pressure upon the latter and also upon the hook of the needle. By reason of the fact that the shank 12 is reduced to afford the hook the desired degree of resiliency. it is manifest that this pressure exterted by the loop a upon the latch 13 under the circumstances above mentioned, causes the shank 12 to slightly flex. Consequently as the loop a moves off or away from the end of the latch 13. the pressure is released from the shank 12, thereby allowing the hook to re turn :to its normal position, under which action the latch 13 1s automatlcally thrown upwardly to 1ts normal position as shown in Figure 9. In Figure 8 I have illustrated the position of the loop a ust before the latch is separated therefrom, while in Figure 9 I have shown how the thread 6 has been drawn through the loop a in the formation of the stitch, and the latch 13 returned to its normal position. The thread 6 when drawn through the loop a, forms the next loop in order to be knitted with the next adjacent thread I), and when the needle is moved up wardly entirely through the loop a, the loop formed by the thread I) is hanging in the hook of the needle, which brings the hook of the needle forward just enough to position the needle in proper relation to the next thread I), so that the operation can be repeated to form another stitch with the loop I) in the thread 6. It will be noted that the needle is moved upwardly and downwardly through the stocking or other article of merchandise from the end of the run. so that the adjacent threads can be properly knitted together in the manner described.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

. What is claimed is:

1. A knitting needle comprising a handle, a hook formed at one end of the handle having a curved tapered shank capable of yielding movements incident to the use of the needle, and a pivoted latch mounted on the handle adapted to engage said hook while the needle is used during the formation of a stitch, flexing said hook whereby the latter automatically returns the latch to its normal upright position as the stitch is completed.

2. A knitting needle comprising a handle. a hook formed at one end thereof having a curved tapered shank capable of yielding movements incident to the use of the needle, and a latch pivoted on the handle normally arranged in an elevated position, said latch having a groove receiving the hook during the formation of a stitch, projecting beyond the point of the hook to transmit pressure from the adjacent thread of the stitch to said hook, whereby the latter automatically returns the latch to normal position as the stitch is completed and said hook relieved of said pressure.

3. A knitting needle comprising a handle, a hook arranged at one end thereof including a curved reduced tapered shank connecting the hook with the handle and permitting said hook yielding movements incident to the use of the needle, a latch pivoted on the handle normally arranged in an elevated position, said latch being adapted to engage said hook during the formation of a stitch, projecting beyond the point of the hook to transmit pressure from the adjacent thread of the stitch to the shank of the hook, said hook automatically throwing the latch to its normal position at the completion of the stit -h when released from said pressure.

4. A knitting needle comprising a shank, a curved hook carried at one end thereof, said hook being of different diameters throughout its curved portion with the outermost point of the hook oflset beyond the center of said hook, wherebythe hook may move forward incident to the use of the need. and a latch pivotally mounted upon the shank and having a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the hook during the-formation of a stitch, and flexing said hook whereby the latter automatically returns the latch to its normal position as the stitch is completed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM D. VAN DYKE. 

